State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is my brother. I can tell you that he is preparing to announce his run for Governor. I want to share a bit about Dan the businessman and public servant, as well as his personal side.

When Dan was eight years old, he started working at our mom and dad’s pizza restaurant as a waiter for one table. He was a hard worker, even as a little guy. When he was tall enough to reach into the ovens, he started being responsible for baking the pizzas. Dan and I would have to stand on wooden Coke crates to be able to reach into the commercial sink to do the dishes. We both worked at Carol’s Pizza Pan, named after our mother, in our hometown of Pontiac all through grade and high school. Dan learned the importance of hard work at an early age.

Pizza is our favorite food. Imagine that! Dan enjoys cooking when he has a weekend night free. He makes great soups and beef stew, tuna noodle casserole, and great burgers, chicken and chops on the grill. Nothing fancy, just good eatin!

Illinois State University is his alma mater. During college, Dan worked at Avanti’s making pizzas and Gondolas. During the summer, he was a road construction laborer. He was raised as a hard worker.

Dan worked his way through college, knows how to multi-task and focuses on the goal. He does that as State Treasurer and did for 25 years as an executive with the ServiceMaster Company.

When Dan takes personal time off, he loves to go scuba diving. He also enjoys camping and adventurous travel (off the tourist path).

Dan was environmentally sensitive before it was popular. He recycles at home, as well as at his state and personal offices. He even asked that I print this letter front to back rather than use a second sheet of paper.

Dan has planted thousands of trees and shrubs on his property over a number of years; although he admits that deer, rabbits and even a few beaver have taken out a number of them. He has also done stream bank stabilization on his creek.

Born and raised in Central Illinois, his values are those of a small town and yet he has global business experience. He believes in a balanced approach, politically and geographically. Dan knows how large and diverse Illinois is; he has not missed visiting any of the 102 counties!

As Treasurer, Dan has tried to set a good example for fiscal conservatism by requesting that the treasurer’s office budget be set at the level it was ten years ago. This is the second year in a row he has reduced his budget, and he has only been in office 2 years.
I don’t know where my brother gets his energy. Must be the jog each morning and the daily vitamin he takes! (Thanks to Grandma for believing in and passing on the importance of vitamins to our family.)

Friends all over the state are encouraging his campaign and helping Dan celebrate his birthday. Would you participate with a special ‘Birthday Contribution’ to his run for Governor? Fundraising will be a big part of the success. To make a contribution, please go to: http://danrutherford.org/calendar/event/43/EventDetails.aspx

We will be celebrating Dan’s birthday together as a family. I look forward to his reaction to all the support in response to this special birthday mailing.

Thank you. I know my brother appreciates you!

Sincerely,
Debi (Rutherford) Fornero
Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s ‘Sis’

It will not be easy running for Governor, and my brother knows that. It will not be easy being Governor of Illinois, and my brother knows that. I hope you agree with me that he is up for both tasks!

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